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Council rezones 810 West Fleming Drive to high‑intensity district despite neighbor concerns
Summary
The council approved a request by Eric and Christy Carswell to rezone 810 West Fleming Drive from medium‑intensity to high‑intensity zoning after a public hearing; a nearby resident cited potential impacts to a historic property.
The Morganton City Council voted April 7 to rezone 810 West Fleming Drive from Medium Intensity District (MID) to High Intensity District (HID), after a public hearing that included opposition from a nearby resident representing a historic property.
Wendy Kato, mayor pro tem, described the parcel as a small former commercial site near McDonald’s and Mimosa Hills Shopping Center that has been vacant for some time. She told the council the HID zoning would align the parcel with surrounding corridor properties and the Imagine Morganton 2040 future land‑use map, and would permit a broader mix of commercial and residential uses along the corridor.
Tim Guffey, who identified himself as the caretaker and long‑term occupant of the nearby Creekside Plantation House, told the council he and other family members opposed rezoning to HID. “I would like to keep the character of our neighborhoods the same,” Guffey said, adding he was concerned about what higher‑intensity uses might be permitted in the future and the effect on the historic property’s setting.
Council members discussed buffering requirements that apply when a nonresidential use abuts residential property. Kato noted that nonresidential uses adjacent to residences are required to provide a minimum 6‑foot opaque buffer that can be reduced to 15 feet of landscaping if a fence is installed; required plantings must reach the screen height within one year of installation.
The Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously recommended approval. After discussion, the council approved the rezoning by voice vote.
